A few days ago
the wonderer

I am entering senior year in august. Is it to early to start applying for colleges in early august?

I would like to get a head start on applications since I have heard from many of my college friends that senior year is pretty hectic. I was just wondering is early August to soon?

please let me know how your application process went and when you started to fill out your applications. I know some schools really look into the first batch/early applications they receive.

I am looking into art schools, theater schools (stage design) or even an audio arts school

thanks =].

Top 7 Answers
A few days ago
Anonymous

Favorite Answer

You needn’t get started until later in the year, but it might be a good idea to get any rolling admissions applications in pretty early, like by the end of August or early September (but not sooner). Getting your applications in before deadlines won’t help you unless the college you are applying to has rolling admission. Also, it would probably be smart if you started working on your college essays if the colleges to which you are applying have released them yet.

I didn’t start filling out my applications out until Thanksgiving. I had to write two essays during my four-day Thanksgiving holiday as well as fill out an application. That pretty much took up all four days of my holiday (after all, college essays take a long time). Then I turned in my first application by December 1 (which was my deadline). I had another application due December 15. So I had to spend the whole weekend before the due date trying to craft another essay and fill out the application. My last due date was January 15. I worked on my last application (which included two essays ) leisurely during the Christmas holiday. I was ready to mail it out early this time, so I mailed it in early January.

Waiting until the school year started made the process more stressful than it had to be. As a result of waiting, I even made a couple of typos in my application (like misspelling my guidance counselor’s e-mail address and giving the wrong fax number to my school), even though I had spend a ton of time proofreading the applications. I probably made typos as a result of writing each of my applications over only a few days’ time–you don’t notice typos you make when what you are writing sounds very familiar to you. (And if you wait, you WILL get stuck doing them right before the deadline–school is too busy.) Thankfully the typos didn’t affect my application–I still got in to all three colleges, but I was practically crying and criticizing myself for being an idiot after I realized I’d made the typos because I had thought that I had just destroyed my chances of getting into college. I also destroyed my Thanksgiving Holiday and a whole weekend by waiting so long.

In summary, I’d suggest you at least work on ALL your essays this summer (get good drafts of essays written). File any rolling admission applications by the beginning of September (and don’t forget to ask your guidance counselor to do his/her parts immediately after you get back to school). If you need any teacher recommendations, ask for all of them this summer or immediately after you get back to school. For schools with deadlines in January or later, you can wait more, but don’t wait as long as I did. If I had been applying to more than three schools, I probably would have had a disaster on my hands as a result of not starting in the summer.

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A few days ago
kimpenn09
August is not too early, but it’s about the earliest anyone applies–just don’t rush them, and make sure the schools have begun to accept new applications.

Especially for schools that you’ll need to audition for, you’ll want to get your apps in as early as possible.

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A few days ago
eri
No, it’s not too early. Most applications are out by then. Most aren’t due until Jan, so you won’t hear back before March, but getting it out of the way early is always good.
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A few days ago
maxpowr90
you can formally submit an “early decision” application usually in september or october. Most people do not like early decision and wait until thanksgiving break to do alot of their apps and submit them.
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A few days ago
IceKimber
No, not at all, especially if you’ve already taken your SAT… APPLY APPLY APPLY! You’ll have that much off your shoulders if you know where you’ll be going! Also, apply for as many scholarships as you can!
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A few days ago
Theodore H
No. Particularly if you’re looking at some very prestigious schools, you’ll want to start now.
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A few days ago
Rahrah
You can start applying any time after you take your college entrance exam (ACT or SAT) and receive your scores.
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